Homeless Prevention Rapid Re-Housing Program | Grant

WASHINGTON, COUNTY OF INC

Grant: $1,762,094 - Department of Housing and Urban Development - Jul. 14, 2009

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Award Description: Community Action Southwest intends to hire four caseworkers to implement the Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP) in Washington County. Supervisory oversight of the program will be the responsibility of an existing coordinator, who supervises three other housing programs within the Family Economic Success Department (FES). HPRP will provide financial assistance and housing relocation and stabilization services to eligible individuals and families at risk of becoming homeless or those experiencing homelessness in Washington County. Staff will collect and evaluate client level data via the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS).HPRP staff will be stationed in three Community Action Southwest offices to comprehensively respond to client need throughout Washington County’s geography. Two staff will work out of CAS’ Washington office serving the greater Washington and Canonsburg areas, one staff will work out of CAS’ Donora office serving the Mon Valley area, and one staff will work out of the Burgettstown office serving the northern part of the county. HPRP staff will endeavor to serve those most at risk by working collaboratively with Washington County Children & Youth Services and mental health providers, in addition to those who have realized a sudden and unexpected reduction in household income. HPRP will serve to prevent homelessness for persons being imminently discharged from psychiatric hospitals, foster care and youth facilities. HPRP staff will be responsible for: immediate crisis resolution, assessments of need, housing stabilization, linkage and coordination of services (including linkage to mainstream resources/benefits/entitlement programs), Individual Action Plan development, monitoring of participant progress, identifying and eliminating barriers to housing, completing vouchers for rent & utility assistance, and data entry in HMIS.Casework staff will facilitate an initial consultation with eligible individuals and families to determine the level of assistance required. HPRP staff and clients will work collaboratively in the development of an Individual Action Plan, which will identify specific and time-tied objectives in pursuit of the goal of housing stability and permanency. For those households experiencing homelessness, casework staff will provide immediate homeless resolution in the form of shelter referral. In the event county shelters cannot accommodate an HPRP household, local motels will be utilized. Once the immediate crisis is temporarily resolved, either by shelter or motel, HPRP staff will work with clients to identify safe and affordable housing opportunities, and will facilitate the move. Ongoing participation and intensity of support in HPRP will be determined based on individual client circumstances and level of housing stability.In most circumstances, households considered to be at risk for homelessness will be placed in short term rental assistance, and will agree to ongoing case management support. A minimum of bi-monthly meetings will take place to determine self sufficiency and housing stability, using a Self Sufficiency scale developed by Community Action Southwest. If medium term rental assistance is recommended, Caseworkers and recipients appropriately amend the Individual Action Plan. Regardless of the term of the assistance, caseworkers will work with participants to clearly identify a gradual reduction of rental assistance over time as the household moves closer to self sufficiency. HPRP staff and participants will each be assigned responsibility within the Action Plan for completion of objectives to expedite housing stability. In the implementation of HPRP, no participating client will receive more than 18 months of rental assistance. Failure to comply with ongoing case management while in receipt of HPRP funds will result in discharge from the program and a termination of financial support.

Project Description: Homeless Prevention Rapid Re-Housing Program

Jobs Summary: The Homeless Prevention Rapid Re-Housing Program created four case work popsitions for the sub-recipient Community Action Southwest. The case workers are responsible for the following: Demonstrates genuine enthusiasm for learning new skills ans assuming new/changing roles, takes full accountability for meeting commitments and acheiving expected results, accepts challenges and uses creative approaches to assess and solve problems, provide informatiion and referral to eligible clients about our programs and services, possess knowledge of current available resources in community that relate to the clients, interview and assess their immediate needs, develop individual case plan and insure service delivery, discuss alternatives with clients and counsel them in order to help them adjust to or correct problem, provide protective services and crisis intervention for at risk clients, conduct recertification, reassessments, and review appropriateness of service being provided to clients, attend training and in-service meetins as required by supervisor, provide home visitation as necessary, complete and submit client intakes, needs statements, action plans, case records, and anyother reports as requested by supervisor, implement Basic Measures fo LIURP Program to include home based energy assessment, refrigerator tests, light bulb replacement and water jacket installation, and submit travel expens and time sheets as required.The case worker must have good oral and written communication skills, have good interviewing and problem soling skills, and have expperienc with social services or previous casework. They also need a BA degree in Social setrvices, and employment is contingent upon a successful Childline & Criminal Investigation as prescribed in the Child Protective Services Law Act. (Total jobs reported: 4)

Project Status: Less Than 50% Completed

This award's data was last updated on Jul. 14, 2009. Help expand these official descriptions using the wiki below.